Kenny: It was a special time and a special team

Stephen Kenny says the Dundalk side which conquered Ireland and made its mark in Europe gave an entire region something to be proud of.

The former Dundalk and Republic of Ireland manager was reunited with members of his 2016 squad as part of Glenmuir United’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

The occasion also supported the Birches and North Louth Hospice, while Kenny had a personal connection to Glenmuir, where his son Fionn plays.

Kenny was also on his way to watch his other son Eoin play for Northern Ireland U21s in their 4-0 win ocer Malta in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.

When speaking to the Dundalk Democrat, “It was great to see all the players playing. Obviously Glenmuir is a club central in the locality, an important club. My own son, Fionn Kenny plays here so I see him playing from time to time here.

“It's obviously Glenmuir's 50th anniversary, and credit to all the volunteers from the club throughout the years. It takes a lot of effort to run a club, and on their 50th year, we'd like to congratulate them.”

Lilywhite legend Brian Gartland helped bring Kenny’s former players back together, and the noise coming from the dressing room told its own story for the manager.

“People think we're in contact all the time, but we're not, you know, a lot of the time and it's great to see everyone, and it was great when the first dressing room was just so noisy.

“You could be 20 yards away when I was walking in, like, because people are just catching up. And it's incredible, the noise from so few people, you know, because they're just delighted to see each other. And they're genuinely thrilled to see each other.

“Obviously, a special team, and they've achieved incredible things. And it's great to see them here again, you know.”

Kenny believes the achievements of 2016 were built on the work which started three years earlier as Dundalk went from domestic success to competing on the biggest stage in Europe.

“It was a culmination, really, you know, of hard work from 2013, then 2014 winning the league then 2015 winning the double.

“It was always something new, you know, ‘14 winning the League and League Cup, ‘15 winning the League and FA Cup. Only losing one game.

“Then winning the, again, eventually targeting the group stages that we had targeted, and that was the objective and it seemed like a pipe dream that many people thought at that time.”

The Lilywhites reached the Champions League play-off in 2016 before facing Legia Warsaw and their 3-0 win over BATE Borisov remains one of the defining nights of the club’s history.

“Because it was difficult to get to 2016, to get to the Champions League play-off, and push Legia Warsaw all the way, having had unbelievable wins.

“And particularly, obviously, people referred to the Bate Borisov, which was a landmark game. And 3-0, which was a historic game. So, yeah, to win the league that year as well, it was phenomenal.”

Kenny also pointed to the way Dundalk rebuilt after losing Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan and Ronan Finn at the end of the 2016 season.

Sean Hoare, Jamie McGrath and Michael Duffy were among those who arrived before another double followed in 2018.

“You know, they were very young players coming to the club. And it took them four or five months to settle. In 2017, by 2018, you know, we built that team, we won the double.

“And it was, you know, so, it was brilliant, a brilliant era. And, well, everyone put Dundalk as a town on the map in Europe.

“You know, amazing, amazing achievements. It was a special time. And, you know, it's good for the lads to be remembered back here again.”

However, for Kenny the lasting memory is bigger than any trophy or European night, but it is rather what that Dundalk team meant to the town and the wider region.

“The joy that it brought to everyone. And, you know, it was incredible. And, yeah, it brought so much joy. And, you know, people felt proud to be from Dundalk and to be from the region. And proud of the team.”